Constraints to utilization of agricultural land by small farmers in Oyugis Division, South Nyanza District

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Abstract

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the
Kenyan economy. The sector is dualistic in nature with majority
of farmers being small-scale farmers with land holdings of less
than 12 hectares while a few farmers are large scale farmers with
land hectarages above 50 ha, Small-scale agriculture is the main
occupation of majority of farmers and it's role in the economy in
terms of marketed output is over 50%. The development of this sector
is therefore crucial to the overall development of agriculture in
the country and to the whole economy.
This study addresses itself to constraints which face the
small-scale farmers in their attempts to increase their levels of
land utilization Oyugis Division, South Nyanza, an area of medium
to high agricultural potential.
The study has established that stated government policy has
favoured the development of sm?ll-holder agriculture for three main
reasons. The sector is argued to be labour intensive and therefore
offers more employment per unit hectrage compared to large scale
farming. Secondly, it is argued that small-holder agriculture is
more intensive than large-scale farming resulting in higher returns
per hectarage. Lastly, small-holder agriuclture is supported on the
basis of equity in distribution of income. It is argued that sine
most of the farmers are small-holders, development of this sector .,
will result in redistribution of income or raising income levels
of a large proprotion of the country's population.